Page 76 of Ember Rising

“I read the file. He’s not going to short-circuit on me, is he?”

“He’s not a clone, so no.”

“Short-circuit?” I ask, intrigued.

“We have experimental people here, too,” she says. “It’s not just on the islands. They catch on fire or just fall over dead sometimes.”

I look at Tanaka, alarmed. “What’s she talking about?”

He puts a palm up. “Those are completely different experiments. They’re AI robots, not humans. Let’s get focused on this op, or we’ll be here until the snow on those mountains has thawed.”

I sit back in my seat and cross my arms, hoping he has a plan that will make the New America regime hurt, and quickly.

“Pax, I don’t know if they knew this when you were briefed in San Antonio, but New America is aware people left Island Seven. Your island. They don’t know who or how many. They’ve stopped sending supply shipments to that island.”

“Shit. Our people need those supplies. The volcano eruption wiped out a lot of the food supply.”

He leans his elbows on the table, looking intent. “We’re working on getting another supply boat there. It’s going to take time.”

I shake my head, frustrated. “Why? We’re sitting in a ski lodge eating poached eggs and toast. They have more than enough of everything in San Antonio. And you guys can’t get a boat of food to the island?”

“We’re working on it. We don’t have unlimited resources. The past year we’ve taken heavy losses.”

Something flickers on Abby’s face, there and gone in less than a second. I think what Tanaka just said was news to her.

“What can I do to expedite help for them?” I ask.

“Steal some gold bars from Daddy’s safe,” Abby cracks.

“Gold’s not worth a shit anymore,” I say, still looking at Tanaka.

He leans forward, brow furrowed. “Are you willing to be a double agent? Tell your father you’ve had time to think and you came back to make amends with him?”

“And bring him down from the inside? Yeah, I assumed that was the plan.”

“Bring it all down. This isn’t just about him. It’s about Soren Whitman and every man who works under him. It’s about dismantling everything they’ve done to oppress and control people.”

“Yes. All of it. Down with the billionaires.”

“Whitman encrypts his messages to your father and his other top advisers with some sort of electronic signet. It’s likely very small. We’ve intercepted their communications devices before, but without the signet to unencrypt them, they’re useless. You can’t do the first part as yourself. The two of you will need to befriend or pay off a close staffer to your father to find out what that signet is hidden in. Do that, and the ILF will send enough food to last the people on the island months.”

I scrub a hand down my face. “So that’s how this works? You’ll let my people starve if I don’t produce immediate results?”

He shrugs a shoulder. “I’ll always be straightforward with you. The ILF will see your potential and want to keep you focused on your work. It takes a lot just to keep all our people cared for. We’re being hit hard in the south by other rebellion groups.”

I sigh softly, thinking about the assignment. “Why don’t you want me to go in as me? Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

“You’ll go in as you when you know exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll have Abby with you. While you distract your father, she’ll copy the signet.”

“She’ll copy it? Just like that?”

Abby smiles sweetly from the other side of the table. “You haven’t seen me in action yet.”

“Right, but by your own admission, you’re reckless. What if you get caught?”

“I won’t.”

“Fuck. This is some double-oh-seven shit.”